Secondary Navigation

Search form

Utility

You are here

Undergraduate Research Participation Jumps 54 Percent

Augustana officials today reported a 54 percent increase in the number of students participating in the College’s Summer Research Program, an initiative that places undergraduates in the field at laboratories and study tanks throughout the U.S.

In summer 2010, 59 students participated in summer research opportunities. This summer, 92 students are working alongside faculty members, exploring everything from platelet-biogenesis to the impact of ultrafast laser pulses on molecular fragmentation.

Officials say the increase in undergraduate researchers is the result of two parallel tracks, each of which has experienced significant growth.

Students who are pursuing majors within the Natural Sciences have been steadily on the rise. In 2005, the College reported 169 biology majors, 60 chemistry majors and 26 physics majors.

Read more about discoveries in science in the summer 2011 issue of The Augustana,

In addition, the number of research-related grants received by the institution and its professors has also grown. A result Dr. Mark Larson, assistant professor of biology and Augustana’s Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network (BRIN) coordinator, attributes to sheer momentum.

“It’s easier for me to make the case for a grant when I can show that I can do the research, that I have the equipment necessary, and that I have skilled and competent students to assist me. When grants are approved, they lead to more discoveries, more equipment and, ultimately, more opportunities to make cases for additional grants.”

Dr. Paul Egland, associate professor of biology and Augustana’s chief health professions adviser, says the ability for students to work alongside him in his lab is priceless.

“One of the things that makes Augustana unique is that students get to apply what they learn in class in a hands-on lab – they get to do experiments and test ideas. That hands-on work is what helps students learn – it cements the ideas they learn about in the classroom.”

Bethany Jochim, class of 2011 and a native of Pierre, S.D., is one example.

At just 22 years old, Jochim recently had her fifth research article published in a national scientific journal.

Titled “Velocity map imaging as a tool for gaining mechanistic insight from closed-loop control studies of molecular fragmentation,” the article detailed the findings of research Jochim conducted alongside Dr. Eric Wells, associate professor of physics at Augustana, and a team of researchers at Kansas State University. The article was published in Physical Review A, a journal published by the American Physical Society.

This fall, Jochim will begin her graduate studies at Kansas State University, where she’ll work toward her Ph.D. in physics. She’s been granted a research assistantship and was awarded the Timothy R. Donoghue fellowship – an honor that speaks to both her skill and the experience she brings to the table, her mentors say.

“At Kansas State, because of her experiences at Augustana, she’ll come in doing second- or third-year graduate level research during her first year,” Wells said.

But before classes begin, Jochim is having a busy summer. She’s been invited to give a talk at the annual meeting of the Division of Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics of the American Physical Society in Atlanta, and she’ll also be representing her research collaborators at a meeting in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

After graduate school, Jochim hopes to teach at the university level and conduct research.

“The research I’ve been part of and the articles we’ve published are a testament to how the faculty here [at Augustana] can get students involved. That’s a really unique and special opportunity,” Jochim said. “In the future, when I do research as a professional, I’d like to involve students in the same way that my professors here have involved me.”

Liberally Educated Scientists

In addition to teaching, researching and advising, Larson, Egland and Wells also serve as strong advocates for giving tomorrow’s scientists a foundation in the liberal arts.

“Here [at Augustana], we want students to experience more than just science. We want students to learn about language, culture, art and politics so they’ll be poised to understand the implications of their work. We often say to students that ‘we’ll give you the tools to specialize, but we won’t specialize you.’ For medical students in particular, that’s so important. They need to have the capacity to appreciate beyond how to fix the patient. They need to connect with their patients emotionally; they need to be able to understand their patients’ background, their culture,” Larson said.

Dr. Thomas R. Cech, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Colorado at Boulder and an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, recently conducted a study to measure the long-term success of science education at liberal arts colleges, compared to research institutions.

While only eight percent of students who attend four-year colleges or universities are enrolled at baccalaureate colleges, such as Augustana, Cech found that among students who obtain Ph.D.s in science, 17 percent received their undergraduate degree from a baccalaureate college.

Among the top liberal arts colleges, five to 18 percent of graduates go on to obtain a Ph.D. in science or engineering.

“Considering that their graduates majored in English, history, art and other humanities, as well as in science, this represents an astounding percentage,” Cech said.

“This is a great day for Augustana,” said Rob Oliver, president. “We’ve long said that in order to learn about the world, you need to see the world. Our Summer Research Program is instrumental in helping tomorrow’s health professionals and scientists see the world and the impact exploration and study can have on the future. On behalf of the College, I give a heartfelt thank you to our talented faculty and staff members who work tirelessly to mentor our students with the goal of making tomorrow’s world even better than today’s.”

Following is a list of the participating students and, where available, their mentor/adviser, project funding, and location of the research: